Title/Author:
“Buried in the Sky:
The Extraordinary Story of the Sherpa Climbers on K2’s Deadliest Day” by Peter
Zuckerman and Amanda Padoan
Tags:
Mountaineering
Publish date:
June 11, 2012
Length:
286 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars
(outstanding)
Review:
Much has been written
about the tragedy on K2 in August 2008 in which eleven souls were lost. However, this book tells the story of the
Sherpas on that expedition, whether they were among the dead or survived the
mission. Their stories as well as their
culture and beliefs are discussed in this excellent book by Peter Zuckerman and
Amanda Padoan.
The book begins in the
Bottleneck, which is located on the most dangerous section of the mountain known
as the Death Zone. There one of the
Sherpas, Chirring Dorje, finds fellow Sherpa Pasang Lama stranded without some
of his vital equipment. Instead of continuing onward, Chirring stays with
Pasang and becomes part of a very famous rescue. From there, the book is a page turner,
alternating between descriptions of this particular climb and subsequent disaster
and discussions on the lifestyle of the Sherpas.
These passages are
some of the most fascinating in the book as a reader will learn about the
Sherpa culture, their beliefs, their myths and the strong bonds many of them
have to family. One of the most
fascinating aspects of their mythology is that it is believed that their supreme
goddess sustains herself on human flesh and that deaths of climbers occur when
she is hungry. Their simple lifestyle
when not climbing and their substantial financial windfall when paid by
climbers (especially those with commercial sponsors, such as those on this
mission) was also discussed in excellent detail.
While the climbers’
fates are also featured, other books on this expedition usually provide more
details about their stories. This book
was written to show the work of those who usually do not get the credit they
deserve and was told through their viewpoint – which was a joy to read as it
told of this tragic day from a completely different perspective.
Book Format Read:
E-book (Nook)
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